, 1887-12-16
a FLYING DuTcHMANo STORY.
A Strange Sight at sen-Adventuro with
n Phantom Ship.

A Strange sight at Sca-Adventurc with
n Phantom Ship.
One of these accounts was given by the
captain of a large brig, whose veracity
and common sense could not be doubted.
The story was that while becalmed some
miles off tho New England coast n deep
resonant blast, or prolonged groan, sud-
denly startled the sailors from their
quarters below deck. Those on duty were
SO dumfounded by the strange, unearthly
noise that they were rooted to the deck
and unable to move. In a few moments
every one was ready for orders. a second
prolonged groan, that seemed to die away
in the distance, like the whistle of n hur-
%ricanc, convinced all that the noise did
not proceed from the ship itself. There
was scacely wind enough to keep the sails
full, although now and then a little puff
would sweep across the ocean and give
the ship n strong forward impulse, but
not enough to make any noise among the
shrouds. Every few moments the deep
csonant blast broke upon the ears of the
astonishcd sailors, the captain included,
and then died away in 4 prolonged howl
or whistle.
Things We're becoming quite exciting
on board the vessel, when suddenly a
strange sight loomcd up out of the dark
ness. y great dark object was floating
along on the waves, surmountcd by a
cloud of white canvas, that seemed three
times the size of an ordinary vessels rig.
The whole object was very indistinct, but
the outlines of the sails and hulk were
plain enough to convince any one of tire
reality of the ships presence. The cap
tain hailed the strange apparition, but the
only answer he received was another UNI
earthly blast. The prov of the good ship
was turned towards the white vision; but
the sailors had now become thoroughly
alarmed, and in spite of the captains
orders and threats the vessel was headed
directly from the Flying Dutchman, and
not until the startling whistles and blasts
We're no longer audible did the sailors
dare to speak in tones above n whisper.
1t is needless to say that the captain
felt angry at this result of his venture
with the phantom ship. lie was con-
vlnccd that, once having lost the oppor-
tunity to investigate this strange spccter,
he would never meet with another
chance. Contrary to his expectations,
however, he was rewarded with another
opportunity. \ year later he was sailing
over the same course, when the sailors
were once more startled by the unaC-
Countablc blasts and whistles of the
phantom ship. a few moments later
the black and white object loomcd up in
the distance again. This time, when the
vessels PROV was turned toward tho
Flying DutChman, no dissenting voice
was heard on board. The phantom ship
appeared to be standing still, for they
drew nearer and nearer to the gigantic
object. The sails, instead of becoming
more distinct as the ship approached the
sides of the Flying Dutchman, appeared
gradually to resolve themselves into
strange, fantastic forms. They no longer
rcscmbled the canva of n sailing craft.
The black hulk, too, seemed to take on n
cone shaped appearance. The resonant
blasts alone seemed the same as before,
only louder and more distinct.
Gradually the vessel approached the
side of the strange object. Every eve
was strained to catch a good glimpse of
tho white shrouds, and every heart
trcmblcd rs the loud death like groans
broke out upon the air. 1t seemed as if
the truth of the matter dawncd upon the
minds of all the sailors at once, for uni
vcrsal whisper broke out on the stiffness
of the night air from the bow to the
stern, ''It's a fog" 1t was nothing
more. The dark object was AN immense
whistling buoy, which was anchored
above n reef some distance from the
shore. a light cloud of fog usually hung
over that part of the sea, and both times
that the captain passed the place it hap
pcned to be night, and "A thick mist was
partly envcloping the automatic buoy.
The captain felt more nettled than sur
prised, and his second account of meet
ing with the phantom ship was never
given to the land authorities by himself,
but it did leak out through some of the
sailors, who thought the joke too good 10
keep.-New York Evening Post.